The Impact of Wearing the Hijab on Whole-body Heat Loss During Exercise-heat Stress

University of Ottawa

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Temperature Change, Body; Heat Stress

Treatments: Other: Exercise-heat stress with no hijab; Other: Exercise-heat stress with a hijab

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07174180

HEPRU-2025-08-A

Details and patient eligibility

About

The hijab (headscarf and cloak) is a Muslim dress, which covers the head, neck and chest, and conceals the female hair, leaving the face uncovered. It is worn by Muslim women worldwide including young Muslim women engaging in sports and exercise. As with any clothing worn on the body, the hijab can impact heat dissipation during exercise, potentially leading to increased body temperature and discomfort, especially in warmer environments. However, the extent to which the hijab may restrict heat loss remains unclear. This study aims to assess dry and evaporative heat exchange in young women performing moderate-intensity intermittent exercise in dry heat conditions (40°C, 15% relative humidity).

Enrollment: 12 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy young female (18-35 years)
• non smoking
• English or French speaking
• ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• claustrophobia
• engaged in endurance training
• acute or chronic illness
• sedentary (not engaged in any form of physical activity)
• physical restriction limiting physical activity

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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12 participants in 2 patient groups

No hijab

Experimental group

Description:

Participants rest in a thermoneutral resting condition for 30-min (baseline resting) while wearing a cotton t-shirt and shorts, after which they enter a chamber regulated at 40°C where they perform an intermittent exercise bout consisting of two, 30-min moderate-intensity exercise bouts (fixed rate of heat production of 200 W/m2), with each exercise bout separated by a 15 min rest break and a 60-min recovery following the second exercise bout.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise-heat stress with no hijab

Hijab

Experimental group

Description:

Participants rest in a thermoneutral resting condition for 30-min (baseline resting) while wearing a hijab over cotton t-shir and shorts, after which they enter a chamber regulated at 40°C where they perform an intermittent exercise bout consisting of two, 30-min moderate-intensity exercise bouts (fixed rate of heat production of 200 W/m2), with each exercise bout separated by a 15 min rest break and a 60-min recovery following the second exercise bout.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise-heat stress with a hijab